Gravity-hinge.



A SUNDH.

' GRAVITY HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8| I915.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

I 1 l I iI/ll/II/IIIIII/IZWT ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH (10-, wAslHNn c AUGUST SUNDH, OF HASTINGS-UPON-HUDSON, NET/V YORK.

GRAVITY-HINGE.

iasoeae.

Application filed March 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST SUNDH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hastings-upon-Hudson, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Gravity- Hinge, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hinges of the gravity operated type, adapted for use on self closing gates, doors, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a practical form of hinge which requires only a small space when placed between a gate and its post, thereby permitting the gate to be hung close to the post.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hinge that is inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and durable, and in which the hinge mechanism is well protected from the elements.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate two farms of hinges constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation view of one form of hinge. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in a direction at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa sectional plan view as indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a. view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View of the same, the section being at the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of the intermediate bearing member.

The hinge in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a stationary member 1 adapted to be secured to a gate post 2 or other support, a rotatable hinge member 3 adapted to carry a gate 4:, and an intermediate bearing mem her or cam 5. The part 1 may be secured to the post 2 by means of an integral bracket 6 formed with a semi-cylindrical bearing surface 7, and a complementary bearing piece or strap 8 connected to the said bracket by bolts 9. The rotatable hinge member 3 may in like manner be connected to the gate 1 by bracket 10, strap 11,-anc

bolts 12.

The stationary hinge part 1 may comprise a hollow cylindrical casing 13 forming a receptacle to contain a lubricating oil 141 in which the cooperating bearing surfaces of the hinge are immersed. Projecting upwardly within the casing 13 is an integral Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1915..

Serial No. 12,884.

bearing block or sleeve 1 1 having a central bore through which extends a vertical guiding pin or pintle 15. The upper face 16 of the said bearing sleeve is a spiral bearing surface or cam extending spirally downward from the point 17 to the point 18, the ends of said spiral surface being connected by a vertical face 19 which forms an abutment for the opposing face of the cam 5.

The rotatable part 3 comprises an outer casing 20 which telescopes with the casing 13, and an inner depending bearing sleeve or block 21 having a central bore to receive the upper part of the pintle 15. The lower end of the sleeve 21 forms a spiral bearing or cam surface 27 extending spirally downward from a point 22 to a point 23, the ends of said spiral surface being connected by a vertical face 24: which forms an abutment for the opposing face of the cam 5.

The cam 5 has upper and lower spiral cam faces 25 and 26 which conform to the spiral faces of the upper and lower hinge members respectively, the cam 5 also having a central bore for the pintle 15. When the gate is in closed position, the cam 5 and the upper and lower cams 21 and 14; together form a complete cylinder.

Then the gate is swung open in a direction to carry the vertical face 2 1 of the rotating member 3 away from the opposing face of the cam 5, the spiral face 27 of said rotating member slides upwardly along the upper spiral surface of the cam 55, the latter being held against rotation by its lower vertical face abutting the vertical face 19 of the stationary hinge part. The hinge member 3 is thus caused to move spirally upward, lifting the gate as it rotates, so that when released, the gate will automatically swing by gravity back to closed position. Tf the gate is swung open in the opposite direc tion, the vertical face of the rotating part 3 forces the cam 5 to rotate with it, thereby causing the cam to ride spirally upward along the stationary cam surface 16. The gate is lifted with the cam 5, and when released will be returned as before by gravity to closed position.

The pintle 15 may be free from the parts 1, 3 and 5, or may be fixedto any one of said which the pintle 15 is omitted. In this construction the depending cam sleeve 21 and the cam 5 both have a bearing lit in the stationary hinge part 1*. The lower spiral surface 26 of the earn 5 rides on a spiral surface formed on the wall of the part 1*. The central tubular opening forms a receptacle for the lubricating oil.

Variations may be resorted to within the spirit andscope of my invention.

WVhat Iclaimvas new and desire .to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:-

1, A hinge-comprisingin combination, a

stationary part, arotatable partand an intermediate part havlngbearmg surfaces'to run on bearing surfaces on said: stationary and rotatable parts, said intermediate and statermediate part having bearing surfaces to run onbearing surfaces on said stationary and rotatable: parts, said intermediate and stationary parts having abutting faces-arranged to prevent the intermediate part from rotating when the said rotatable part is rotated in one direction froma normal central position, said intermediate and rotatable parts having abutting facesarranged to cause; the intermediate part to rotate with said rotatable part when the latter is rotated in the other direction fromsa-id central position, said bearing surfaces being inclined to the axis of rotation and causing the said rotatable part tomove awav from the stationa-ry part when the rotatable part is-rotated in either direction from said central posiion.

3. A hinge comprising in combination, a stationary; part, a rotatable part and an intermediate partvhaving bearingsurfaces to run on bearing vsurfaces on said stationary and rotatable parts, said intermediate and statiOna'ry partshaving abutting faces arranged to prevent the intermediate part from rotating when the said rotatable part is rotated in onedirection from a normal central position, said-,i,ntermediate and rotatable parts having abuttingfaces arranged to cause the intermediate part to rotate with said rotatablepartwhen the latter is rotated in the other direction fromsaid centralposition, sai d bearing surfaces beinginclined to the axis of rotation andcausing the said rotatable part tomoveaway from the stat onary .part uhen. the :rqtatahleipart retated in either direction from said central position, said parts having alined openings forming acentral bore, and a pintle in said bore.

4. In a hinge, the combination of a sta- I tionary part, a rotatable part and an intermediate part rotatable relatively to both said first named parts, said intermediate part having cam surfaces cooperating with bearing surfaces on the other said parts.

5. In a hinge, the combination of asta- .tionary part, a rotatable part and an intermediate part rotatable relatively to both said first named parts, said intermediate part having cam surfaces cooperating with bearing surfaces on the other said parts, said rotatable part 1 and said intermediate part each arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, said cam surfaces formed to raise and lower said last named parts relatively to each other and relatively to the said stationary part.

6. In a hinge, the combination of a stationarypart, a rotatable part and an intermediate part rotatable relatively to both saidfirst named parts, said intermediate part having cam surfaces cooperating with bearing surfaces on the other said parts, one of said parts constructed to form a receptacle to contain a lubricant for the bearing surfaces.

7. In a hinge, the combination of upper and lower members relatively rotatable about a vertical axis, and an intermediate cam rotatable relatively to both said members and having bearing surfaces running on cooperating bearing surfaces on said members and formed to effect a relative up and down movement of said members during their relative rotation, said membershaving telescoping walls inclosing the cam and said bearing surfaces.

8. In ahinge, the combination of relatively rotatable upper and lower hinge parts, and an intermediate part, said parts together forming a vertical cylinder, said parts having cooperating spiral bearing surfaces arranged to cam said upper .and lower parts away from each other during said relative rotation.

9. In a hinge, the combination of relatively rotatable upper and lower hinge parts, and an intermediate part. said parts together forming a vertical cylinder. said parts havmg cooperating spiral. bearing surfaces arranged to cam said upper and lower parts away from each other during said relative rotation. the lower part formed with :1 cylindrical wall or casing inclosing said cylinder and forming areceptacle for a lubricant, the upper part formed with a casing covering andtelescoping with said receptacle.

10. Ina hinge, the. combination ,of-a lower staticnaryica n member, an uppercretatable cam member, and an intermediate cam member having a rotatable engagement with each of the other mentioned cam members, means for guiding said members and maintaining them in vertical alinement, the lower member formed with a casing, the upper member forming a cap for said casing and having an outer wall surrounding and telescoping freely with said casing, and a lubricant within said casing.

11. In a hinge, the combination of three hinge members, two of said members having spiral cam surfaces inclined in opposite directions, the third member having spiral cam surfaces inclined in opposite directions, and respectively engaging the said spiral surfaces of the other said members.

12. In a hinge, the combination of three hinge members, two of said members having spiral cam surfaces inclined in opposite directions, the third member having spiral cam surfaces inclined in opposite directions, and respectively engaging the said spiral surfaces of the other said members, said members being relatively rotatable and having abutting stop surfaces arranged to limit and control the rotation of the said third member relative to each of the other members.

13. In a hinge, the combination of a stationary member, a member rotatable in either direction from a central position of rest, and a third member having bearing surfaces cooperating with bearing surfaces on the other said members, said surfaces comprising spiral inclines arranged to cam the said rotatable member upward on said third member when rotated in one direction from central position, and to cam said rotatable member and said third member upward together on said stationary member when rotated in the opposite direction from central position, said rotatable member automatically returnable to central position by the weight of a load carried thereon.

1 1. The combination of a lower stationary hinge part formed with an upwardly extending cylindrical shell or casing, an upper rotatable hinge part having a depending cylindrical casing surrounding and telescoping with said first named casing, means to clamp the first named casing to a vertical post, and

means to clamp the rotatable casing to a vertical rod or frame piece of a gate, said post and rod being close to the rotatable casing and on opposite sides thereof when the latter is in its normal position of rest.

15. The combination of a lower stationary hinge part formed with an upwardly extending cylindrical shell or casing, an upper rotatable hinge part having a depending cylindrical casing surrounding and telescoping with said first named casing, a cam within said casings formed with upper and lower bearing faces to cooperate with cam bearing faces on the said upper and lower hinge parts respectively, said cam rotatable with the said upper hinge part when the latter is rotated in one direction from a normal position of rest and cammed upward during said rotation, said cam held against rotation when the said upper hinge part is rotated in the opposite direction from its normal position of rest and operative to move the said upper hinge part upward during said rotation, means to clamp the stationary casing to a vertical post, and means to clamp the rotatable casing to a vertical rod or frame-piece of a gate, said post and rod being close to the rotatable casing and on opposite sides thereof when the latter is in its normal position of rest.

16. In a hinge, the combination of a lower stationary hinge member in the form of a cylindrical casing having a spiral bearing surface formed on the inner wall thereof, an upper rotatable hinge member comprising a casing surrounding and telescoping with said stationary casing, said rotatable member having a bearing part projecting downward within the stationary casing and formed with a spiral bearing surface, and a cam rotatable within the stationary casing and formed with upper and lower spiral bearing surfaces to run on the spiral bearing surfaces of the said rotatable and stationary hinge members respectively.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 3rd day of March A. D. 1915.

AUGUST SUNDI-I.

Witnesses:

WALTER C. STRANG, JAMES G. BETHELL.

flopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latenta, Washington, D. G. 

